This is a list of the dates, venues and winners of National Ploughing Championships from 1951 to 1970.

1951
Number of counties competing  20

1952
There were demonstrations of new implements at the Ploughing Championships. These incuded:
a rotary hoe; a Clifford Rotary Cultivator; a Howard Rotavator; Disc Ploughs; a One-way Plough and a single Gang Disc Harrow

1953
At a council meeting of the N.P.A. on February 25^th it was decided to hold a test match confined to the 10 Tractor Competitors who secured the highest marks in Mullingar. This council did not believe that Mullingar provided a fair test on account of the roughness of the match field.
The test match was held in Milltown, Co. Kildare on March 18^th and each competitor was obliged to rise Middle and Furrow and plough 1,850 sq. yards in three hours. This was to be ploughed in two plots, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. The competitor with the highest combined marks was deemed the winner.

Test Match
1st  Ronald Sheane, Wicklow
2nd  Thomas McDonnell, Louth
These competitors represented Ireland at the first ever World Contest in Ontario, Canada, in September 1953.

1954
In this event 25 out of the 44 competitors lost their furrow marks for exceeding the time limit.
The 12 best competitors were selected to plough in a Test Match on February 27^th to select those who would represent Ireland in the World Ploughing Contest to be held in Killarney in October 1954.

Test Match
1st  William Murphy, Dublin
2nd  Ronald Sheane, Wicklow

Date	Venue	Senior Ploughing Championship	Junior Ploughing Champion	Senior Individual Championship	Junior Individual Champion	Overall Tractor Champion
1st February, 1951	Wexford	1st.  Wexford 2nd.  Wicklow 3rd.  Louth	1st.  Cork 2nd.  Dublin 3rd.  Kildare	Michael Redmond, Wexford	William Murphy, Dublin	P.J. Shanahan, Kerry
7th February, 1952	Athenry, Co. Galway	1st.  Kerry 2nd.  Wicklow 3rd.  Carlow	1st.  Tipperary N. 2nd.  Dublin 3rd.  Galway	Patrick Mahoney, Kerry	William Murphy, Dublin	William Woodroofe, Wicklow
11th February, 1953	Mullingar, Co. Westmeath	1st.  Wicklow 2nd.  Wexford 3rd.  Kerry	1st.  Longford 2nd.  Kildare 3rd.  Cork	Thomas McDonald, Carlow	Eugene McGirr, Longford	Andrew Rogers, Wexford
11th February, 1954	Cahir, Co. Tipperary	1st.  Kerry 2nd.  Longford 3rd.  Wexford	1st.  Cork 2nd.  Offaly 3rd.  Carlow	J.J. Egan, Kerry	Thomas McDonald, Carlow	William Murphy, Dublin

1955
This was the Silver Jubilee of the National Ploughing Association and the first ever two day event.
A local woman appeared for the first time in the National Press as Secretary for the Association, her name was Anna May Brennan. All the other members of the Association were men.
The "Queen of the Plough", Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry was presented with a Silver Crown of celtic design purchased in Weirs of Grafton Street, Dublin, value £200.

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Plough Champion	Junior Horse Plough Champion	Senior Tractor Plough Champion	"Queen of the Plough"
10th & 11th February, 1955	Athy, Co. Kildare	John Halpin, Wicklow	John Murphy, Kerry	William Kehoe, Wexford	Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry

1956
Number of counties competing  23
Number of trade stands  53

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Junior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Overall Tractor Plough Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	3/4 Furrow Tractor Champion	2 Furrow Tractor Class
1st & 11nd February, 1956	Nenagh, Co. Tipperary	1st.  Kerry 2nd.  Wicklow 3rd.  Carlow	1st.  Galway 2nd.  Kilkenny 3rd.  Kildare	Joseph Byrne, Carlow	Matthew Meleady, Kildare	Henry Reilly, Louth	Anna Mai Donegan, Kerry	William Kehoe, Wexford	Kevin Roche, Kerry N.

1957
Number of counties competing  21
Number of trade stands  37

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Junior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Overall Tractor Plough Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	Junior Tractor Champion	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
7th & 8th February, 1957	Boyle, Co. Roscommon	1st.  Cork 2nd.  Kerry 3rd.  Wexford	1st.  Kerry 2nd.  Tipperary S. 3rd.  Kilkenny	John Kent, Wexford	John Bergin, Tipperary S.	Cornelius Slattery, Kerry	Muriel Sutton, Wicklow, Eileen Duffy, Galway	James O'Grady, Limerick	Denis Healy, Kerry

1958
As the fifties wore on, two aspects combined to suggest the passing of an era. One was J.J. Bergin's advancing years, the other was the acceleration into tractor mechanisation and the ever increasing abandonment of the horse.
In 1958 it was already clear that The Old Lion (Bergin) was fading. His poor health the previous year had prevented him from taking his usual part in the affairs of the Association. His condition gradually failed and on March 13^th, 1958, J.J. Bergin, founder of the National Ploughing Association, died at Maybrook, Athy, Co. Kildare.

1959
A National Bread Baking Competition was introduced by the N.P.A. in co-operation with the E.S.B. and the first national winner was;
Mary Turner, Main St. Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim

1960
Number of counties competing   22
Number of trade stands  63
Number of entries in National Bread Baking Competition  27

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Junior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Overall Tractor Plough Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	Under 21 Champion	Senior 2 Furrow Tractor Champion	Junior 2 Furrow Tractor Champion	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
12th & 13th February, 1958	Tramore, Co. Waterford	1st.  Kerry 2nd.  Carlow 3rd.  Cork	1st.  Tipperary S. 2nd.  Kilkenny 3rd.  Waterford	J.J. Egan, Kerry	John Bergin, Tipperary S.	William Murphy, Dublin	Peggy Mullally, Kilkenny	Kevin Roche, Kerry	William Murphy, Dublin	Eugene McGerr, Longford	James Grainger, Kildare
28th & 29th January, 1959	Bunchurch, Co. Kilkenny	1st.  Carlow 2nd.  Wicklow 3rd.  Cork	1st.  Monaghan 2nd.  Kilkenny 3rd.  Offaly	John Halpin, Wicklow	Harry Campbell, Monaghan	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	Muriel Sutton, Wicklow	Michael Keating, Wexford	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	John Walsh, Waterford	Michael Kelly, Kilkenny
9th & 10th November, 1960	New Ross, Co. Wexford	1st.  Wicklow		J.J. Egan, Kerry	John Corbett, Clare	Richard Mullally, Kilkenny	Mary Shanahan, Kerry			James Murphy, Carlow	Richard Mullally, Kilkenny

1961
Eileen Brennan, the 1961 "Queen of the Plough": is sister of Anna May Brennan, then secretary of the N.P.A.

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Junior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Tractor Champion	Junior Tractor Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	Under 21 Champion	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
8th & 9th November, 1961	Killarney, Co. Kerry	1st.  Wexford 2nd  Kerry 3rd  Carlow	1st. Kilkenny 2nd  Waterford 3rd  Tipperary N.	William Murphy, Dublin	Matthew Dunne, Laois	Eileen Brennan, Wicklow	Patrick Brennan, Wicklow	William Murphy, Dublin

1962
Number of competing counties  20
Number of Trade stands  50
Number of machinery demonstrations  9

1963
The venue in Atherny was the Agricultural College and run under the Department of Agriculture as a Training College.

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Junior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Senior Tractor Champion	Junior Tractor Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	Under 21 Champion	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
7th & 8th November, 1962	Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary	1st.  Carlow	1st.  Waterford	Thomas McDonald Carlow	Edward O'Sullivan, Waterford	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	James Savage, Louth	Angela Galgey, Waterford	Donal Regan, Kerry	Joseph T. Hoyne, Offaly
6th & 7th November, 1963	Athenry, Co. Galway	1st.  Wicklow	1st.  Galway	Patrick Mahoney, Kerry	Thomas Reilly, Galway	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	Christy Grainger, Kildare	Eileen Brennan, Laois	John O'Hea, Cork	John Walsh, Cork

1964
A new class was introduced for men under 28 and over 21 on the 1^st of January of the competition year.
At this Event in Kilkenny, Ireland also celebrated their victory after Charles Keegan, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow won the 1964 World Plough Title at the World Ploughing Contest in Austria.

Date	Venue	Senior Horse Ploughing Championships	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Senior Tractor Champion	Under 28 Tractor Champion	Under 21 Tractor Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
18th & 19th November, 1964	Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny	1st.  Wicklow	Peter Byrne, Wicklow	John Kent, Wexford	Andrew Cullen, Wexford	John Drum, Kerry	Patrick McKeown, louth	Eileen Brennan, Laois	John O'Hea, Cork

1965
Due to extremely bad weather conditions the 1965 Championships were delayed for a week. When they did take place the weather had not improved much and the number of spectators was down considerably.
The 1965 Championships also saw the arrival of ESSO on the scene. ESSO offered to replace The Supreme Trophy initially presented by Vigzol Lubricants in 1946 and also to provide sponsorship for the Event. This was not an offer that could be refused and so ESSO, in the person of Dermot Jordan, and the N.P.A. began a very happy association was still exists today.
The ESSO Supreme Trophy is the premier award in the National Ploughing Championships. The competitor who gains the highest net marks in the Senior Tractor Class is presented with the trophy. It depicts a 2 furrow plough as used by the first Tractor Champion of Ireland. It is mounted on hand cut Connemara marble and the illustration is full chaised and burnished on matted bronze. It stands 12" high and stands on a base of Kilkenny marble.
The trophy was designed and created by Messrs. Gunning & Sons, Ltd., Dublin.
The Vigzol trophy was, by agreement, bestowed permanently on the County Wicklow Ploughing Assoc.

1966
Another new competition was introduced in 1966 to cater for students of Agricultural Colleges. The intention was to stimulate interest in the skills and values of good ploughing and tillage methods in the students.
The competition was sponsored by Henry Ford & Son, Cork.

1967
From 1967 onwards, all competitors entered in the Horse Plough Classes were graded Senior.
Agricultural College Class
Robert Miller, (Laois) representing Pallaskenry College.

1968
The National Championships in Banteer was very well attended and was a great success.
The cost of the catalogue was 2/- and admission to the "Queen of the Plough" dance was 8/-, music by Maurice Mulcahy.

1969
So as to make the National Championships more interesting to the ladies of the time, the I.C.A. were invited to give demonstrations in cooking, rug making and floral arrangements. This was a major development as it made the Event an occasion the whole family could enjoy. Rockwell College is run by the Holy Ghost Fathers and has a large farm attached to the school.

1970
Number of counties competing  21
Number of trade stands  73
Number of machinery demonstrations  17

Date	Venue	Senior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Junior Individual Horse Plough Champion	Senior Tractor Champion	Senior Tractor Champion	Under 28 Tractor Champion	Under 21 Tractor Champion	"Queen of the Plough"	3 Furrow Tractor Champion
17th & 18th November, 1965	Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow	John Halpin & Peter Byrne, Wicklow	Moni Behan, Waterford	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny.	Patrick Tallon, Meath.	John O'Hea, Cork (living in Dublin)	Martin Kehoe, Wexford.	Brigid O'Connor, Wexford.	William Murphy, Dublin.
2nd & 3rdNovember, 1966	Rosegarland Est., Wellingtonbridge, Co. Wexford	Thomas McDonald, Carlow	Ted Keohane, Cork	Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	Patrick McKeown, Louth	John Tracey, Carlow	John Paul O'Donovan, Cork	Betty Williams, Wicklow	Patrick Tallon, Meath
25th & 26th October, 1967	Tullow, Co. Carlow	Thomas McDonald, Carlow		James Murphy, Carlow	Patrick McKeown, Louth	Anthony Mulligan, Wicklow	Eamonn Muldowney, Kilkenny	Brigid O'Connor, Wexford	Liam Rohan, Laois
23rd & 24th October, 1968	Banteer, Co. Cork	John Halpin, Wicklow		William Murphy, Dublin	Michael Murphy, Carlow	Martin Hanlon, Wexford	Martin Kehoe, Wexford	Betty Williams, Wicklow
22nd & 23rd October, 1969	Rockwell College, Cashel, Co. Tipperary	John Kent, Wexford		Michael Muldowney, Kilkenny	John Bergin, Tipperary S.	John Paul O'Donovan, Cork	Martin Kehoe, Wexford	Lilian Keating, Wexford	Michael Keating, Wexford
28th & 29th October, 1970	Danesfort, Co. Kilkenny	John Halpin, Wicklow		William Murphy, Dublin	Patrick Tallon, Meath	John Sally, Wicklow	Seamus Cullen, Wexford	Mary Ryan, Kilkenny	Michael Keating, Wexford